This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features a riveting interview with the First Lady of Chess, Judit Polgar. With the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Judit’s home city Budapest around the corner, it’s hard to think of a better guest!

Judit Polgar is the strongest female chess player of all time. At the age of 15 years and four months she broke Bobby Fischer’s record to become the youngest grandmaster in history. For more than two decades she competed successfully with the very best and became the first and only woman ever to enter the world top-10. In her career she defeated eleven(!) current or former World Champions in classical or rapid chess.

Judit retired from professional chess in 2014 but continues to be one of the most beloved ambassadors of the game. Judit also organises the Global Chess Festival, which will be held for the tenth time during this year’s Budapest Olympiad.

Interviewed by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, Judit shares Olympiad memories, speaks about the philosophy of her festival and sketches the outlines of a new title system to erase the difference between Open and Women’s chess competitions.

0:00 – Intro

2:02 - How are Judit's days filled in Budapest with the Olympiad coming up?

5:02 - What makes the Global Chess Festival in Budapest so special?

9:10 - What is Judit's motivation for organising the festival?

13:15 - How did Judit react to the news of the Olympiad being held in Budapest?

15:05 - Why the Olympiad is a great place to meet old friends

16:54 - The Olympiad's unique atmosphere and the Bermuda party

18:58 - How does Judit remember her first Olympiad as a young girl?

21:52 - Did Judit's success improve the family's relationship with Hungarian authorities?

23:39 - Judit as a pioneer for women players

25:46 - "Polgaria"

29:46 - The adjustment of playing the Olympiad with men

33:10 - What does Judit think of women's events?

36:58 - Judit suggests abolishing women's titles

41:20 - How does Judit reflect on her Olympiad achievements?

44:00 - Bled

46:14 - Judits experiences as Hungarian team captain

53:20 - Who are Judits favorites and dark horses for this year's event?

58:27 - Magnus's participation

1:00:20 - The teams that will play for the gold, China and India

1:04:08 - Do Judits female mentees have the same passion and discipline for the game as the young men?